Controller mechanism for general purposes



Oct. 6, 1942. l. M. CRAFTS ETAL CONTROLLER MECHANISM FOR GENERALPURPOSES Filed April 25; 1941 H H &

. :E=:= bu

Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNlT STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROLLER MECHANISDIFOR GENERAL PURPOSES Application April 25, 1941, Serial No. 390,352

24 Claims.

Our invention relates to mechanism that may be employed for generalpurposes, that is, that may be used for controlling operationsmechanisms of various types and particularly in which it is desired tomove an actuating member for controlling such mechanisms into a definiteposition or positions for effecting such control, and an object of theinvention, among others, is the production of a mechanism of this typethat shall be simple in construction and particularly efiicient insecuring the desired results.

One form of a mechanism embodying our invention and in the constructionand use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may beattained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1is a diagrammatic view illustrating the construction and operation ofour improved controller mechanism.

Figure 2 is a view in lengthwise central section through the barrel andsupported parts.

Figure 3 is a View in cross section on a plane denoted by the brokenline 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a View of a fragment of the device on a plane denoted by thebroken line 44 of Fig. 3, this being in the nature of a diagrammaticview, the lengths of the pins being somewhat exaggerated to enable aclear description and understanding of the device.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 5 denotes a barrel that may besupported in a manner to be presently described by a bearing 6 at oneend and by means of a spindle l in a bearing 8 at its opposite end. Thespindle l is shown herein as connected by a worm wheel 9 and worm Iiiwith the arbor ll of a reversible motor E2. The barrel 5 is hollow for aconsiderable portion of its length, a threaded actuating rod l3 beingloosely mounted at one end in a hole in a solid part of the barrel atone end and extending along the hollow part of the barrel and through asolid part at the opposite end where its extremity is supported andsecured in a bearing block l4 in such manner that the barrel may berotated independently of the rod. An actuating nut I6 is threaded to fitthe thread on the rod l3 and an actuating key H secured to the nut,protrudes through a slot l8 extending lengthwise along the barrel 5. Thekey is entered into a hole in a cam l9 slidably mounted upon the barrel5 whereby operation of the nut upon the threaded actuating rod I3through the medium of the key will both move the cam lengthwise alongthe barrel, and rotate it.

The cam has an active portion 20 and an inactive part 2|. A controllershaft 22 is rotatably mounted in cooperative relation with respect tosaid cam, said shaft 22 being mounted in a bearing 23 at one end and ina bearing in the block I 4 near its opposite end, as shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawing. A controller pin support 24 is mounted upon and secured tothe shaft 22 and serves as a mount for controller pins 25 which extendinto position for operation by the cam Iii. These pins are spaced aparton the support 24 a distance having a definite or fixed relation to thethreads of the actuating rod IS, the threads on the rod in the structureherein shown being of one-fourth of an inch pitch and the pins beingspaced one-fourth of an inch apart. This provides that one full rotationof the barrel 5, and hence the cam i9, will move the cam along the shafta distance of one-fourth of an inch and from one of the pins 25 to thenext adjacent pin. The widths of the active and inactive parts 20 and 2|of the cam are substantially one-fourth of an inch although the width ofthe latter is somewhat immaterial. The pins are of gradually increasedlengths so that the active part 20 of the cam will properly receive thenext succeeding pin as the cam moves along the barrel 5. The inactivepart 2| of the cam is concentrically formed to provide a dwell in theoperation of the cam upon a pin and immediately after the pin disengagesfrom the active portion of the cam for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

During the operation of the cam while rotating in the directionindicated by the arrow applied to the barrel 5 the pin 25 denoted by theletter b is engaged with the active part 20 of the cam and consequentlylifts the support 24, and the pin 25 denoted by the letter a hastherefore been moved from contact with the active part 20 of the cam andmay pass to the right out of the sphere of action of the cam. The saidpin b will continue to raise the support 24 as the cam rotates in thedirection indicated until the end of said pin is positioned in the planeof the concentric portion of the cam 25, being then in position to passon to the concentric inactive portion 2| of the cam. At this time theend of the pin 25 denoted by the letter 0 will be located opposite somepart of the lower portion of the active part 20 of the cam in positionto pass on to said active part, and continued rotation of the cam willcause the pin last mentioned to take up its duty in raising the support24, this operation continuing until automatically stopped by mechanismto be hereinafter described. A control arm 26 is secured to the shaft 22to be moved thereby into different radial positions for such operationof a controller member as may be desired. The exact radial position towhich the control arm will be moved within each step may be determinedby screwing the pin 25, which corresponds to the particular step inquestion, in or out in the support. By so doing a greater or lessportion of the cam surface is effective in imparting motion to the pinsupport 2 3. A bar is shown attached to the end of the arm 26 and servesas a connection to said controller member which may be employed for awide variety of purposes, as for varying the speed control of an engineor for moving any controlling member from one position to another tochange the operating efiects obtained by its operation.

The mechanical structure just described is connected with an electricalapparatus for controlling the operation of the motor l2, this connectioncomprising a gear 2? having a hub on one side entered into a hole in theend of the barrel and secured therein by a set screw as shown in Fig. 1.A hub iii on the opposite side of the gear has a bearing in the block Itand the rod l3 extends through these hubs into the block [4 in which itis fast from turning as shown in Fig. 1. This gear 2? is engaged with agear 23 secured to a shaft '29 at one end which shaft is supported as ina bearing 30, the opposite end of this shaft having a worm 3| in meshwith a Worm gear 32 secured to the arbor 33 of a rotatably mountedcontact supporting disk 35 upon which contacts 35-36 are secured.Brushes 37-38 are located with the free ends of the brushes against thecontacts seas. The base of each of the brushes 3'l38 is electricallyconnected into an electric circuit for flow of current for operation ofthe motor E2 in a manner now to be described.

The motor 92 is of the reversible type having one wire 3% extending froma main wire 4t and connected with the motor, and two wires 4i42 leadfrom the motor to the contacts 35-3$, respectively. When the currenttraverses the wires M and 39 connected to the motor the latter willrotate in one direction in a manner that will be readily understood, andwhen the current traverses the wires 52 and 39 the motor will rotate inthe opposite direction.

In the construction herein shown the brushes iii-J8 are connectedrespectively with contacts fi3 i t, each brush being connected with acontact as by means of a wire 55 or 6. The contacts 33 i l are each in aposition for engagement with one end of a pivotally mounted switch blade4": the pivot of which is connected by wire 48 with the main line wireas located opposite the main line wire ea hereinoefore mentioned.

The operation of the switch blade ll in connection with the contacts HP-i t will cause the motor to turn in one direction or another as may bedesired. The evice is operated as follows:

It is explained that the pins 25 in the control support 2 3 have adefinite relation to the contacts 33 i 3 and consequently to the brushes3'l and. 38, the pins 37 at the right of the center in the set shown inFigure 1 having relation to and acting in connection with the set 31 ofbrushes and consequently with the set 43 of contacts, and the set 38' ofpins at the left of the center in the set as shown in Fig. 1 having arelation to and acting in connection with the set 38 of brushes andconsequently with the set li t of contacts. With this in mind the barrel5 and the disk rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, the pinb is active in raising the support 2- 1 to the limit to be reached bysaid pin just before it passes from the active part it? of the cam on tothe inactive part 21 of said cam, the pin a being in position justbefore leaving the cam and the pin 0 being in position just before it islocated opposite the active part 29 of the cam, which is moving to theleft. In this position of the parts the brush b at the right of the set3? of brushes and which cooperates with said pin 1) is just at the pointof disengagement from the contact 35. Continuing movement for a shortperiod to end the cycle the pin b passes on to the inactive part 2| ofthe com, the pin 0 passes into position opposite the active part 26 ofthe cam, the pin a passes beyond the inactive part 2i of the cam and thebrush 1) disengages from the contact 35, thereby breaking the circuitand stopping the motor with the controller arm 23 in the proper positionfor which the mechanism was set.

The pin b is now located on the concentric part, of the cam, therebyimparting no movement to the support 2t and arm 26 and this efiects thedwell hereinbefore referred to for enabling the parts to overcome anyslight momentum which they may have gained by their movement and thiswithout further movement of the arm 25 from the position to which it hasbeen moved. Should this momentum be sumcient to move the brush b on tothe contact 36 a circuit will be established but in a way to reversedirection of rotation of the motor in a manner that will be readilyunderstood with the result that the brush b will again be located in thespace between the contacts 353S, and the momentum having been reduced,the motor will come to rest.

If a different degree of movement of the arm 25 be desired, this may beeffected by moving the switch blade t? on to another of the contacts andthe degree of movement of the arm 26 will be governed accordingly. If itbe desired to move the 'arm 26 in the opposite direction, as to theleft, the switch blade s? will be moved into contact with one of thecontacts 45, this reversing the direction of rotation of the motor andof the barrel 5 and the action of the cam 59 on the pins 25 will bereversed to that just described, the cam moving to the right instead ofto the left.

The contacts i3 ii, together with the switch blade il, constitute aremote control connected with the controller mechanism by means of wires35- 35 and this enables a remote control to be obtained that may belocated in any place relatively to the controller mechanism and at suchdistance therefrom as may be desired.

While as an illustrative example the threads on the rod l3 and the pins25 are set out herein as having a one-fourth inch relationship, it willbe understood that this may be varied as desired. The connection betweenthe barrel 5 and the disk 34 is so timed, and the brushes Bit-33 are sospaced relatively to each other that the degree of movement of the disk35 and the movement of the contacts 38 together with the spacedarrangement of the pins 25 will act in unison to break the circuitcoincident with the completion of an action by a pin 25.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes we havedescribed the principles of operation of our invention, together withthe device which we now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof; but we desire to have it understood that the device shown isonly illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by othermeans and applied to uses other than those above set out.

We claim:

1. A controller mechanism including a movably mounted controller member,a separately movably mounted controller pin support, a set of pinsrigidly carried by said support for successive operative movement withsaid controller member for operative movement of said support by eitherof said pins, and a control device operatively connected with saidsupport for operation thereby.

2. A controller mechanism including a movably mounted controller member,a separately movably mounted controller pin support, a set of pinsrigidly carried by said support but each of which is adjustably mountedtherein for adjustment toward and from said controller member and forsuccessive operative engagement with said controller member foroperative movement of said support by either of said pins, and a controldevice operatively connected with said support for operation thereby.

3. A controller mechanism including a movably mounted controller member,a controller pin support mounted for rocking movement independently ofsaid member, a set of pins rigidly carried by said support for successivoperative engagement with said controller member for operative movementby either of said pins to rock said support on its axis, and a controldevice operatively connected with said support for operation thereby.

4. A controller mechanism including a movably mounted controller member,a rotatably mounted controller shaft, a controller pin support securedto said shaft, a set of pins rigidly carried by said support forsuccessive operative engagement with said controller member foroperative movement of said shaft by either of said pins, and a controldevice operatively connected with said support for operation thereby.

5. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins rigidly carried by said support foroperative movement of said support by either of said pins, a controllermember movably mounted to successively engage said pins to thereby movesaid pin support to various positions, and means for effecting movementof said controller member.

6. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins rigidly carried by said support foroperative movement of said support by either of said pins, a controllermember rotatably mounted to successively engage said pins to therebymove said pin support to various positions, and means for effectingrotation of said controller member.

'7. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, acontroller member in the form of a rotatably mounted cam, means forrotating said cam, and means for imparting axial movement to the cam tosuccessively engage said pins to effect different degrees of movement ofsaid pin support.

8. In a controller mechanism of the character described and having amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand also having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, acontroller member in the form of a rotatably mounted cam having anactive and an inactive part, means for rotating said cam, and means forimparting axial movement to said cam to successively engage said pins toeffect difierent degrees of movement of said pin support.

9. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, acontroller member in the form of a rotatably mounted cam having anactive and an inactive surface, means for rotating said cam, and meansfor imparting axial movement to the cam to successively engage said pinsfirst with said active surface and then with said inactive surface toimpart difierent degrees of movement to said pin support.

10. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, a rotatablymounted controller member in the form of a cam, means for rotating saidcontroller member, a threaded actuating rod threaded through said cam,and means for rotating said cam to successively engage the cam with saidcontroller pins.

11. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, a rotatablymounted actuating barrel, means for rotating said barrel, a controllermember mounted in said barrel for rotation thereby, and means forimparting movement of said controller member lengthwise along the barrelto successively engage with said pins for operation of said pin support.

12. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including arotatably mounted pin support operatively connected with a controldevice and having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, athreaded supporting rOd secured against rotation, an actuating barrelrotatably mounted on said rod, means for rotating said barrel, a slotextending lengthwise along the barrel through one wall thereof, a nutlocated within the barrel and engaged with said threaded rod and havinga key extending through said slot, and a controller member mounted onsaid barrel and having a recess engaged by said key whereby saidcontroller member is rotatably mounted and axially movable tosuccessively engage said pins for operation of said pin support.

13. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including arotatably mounted pin support operatively connect d with a controldevice and having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, athreaded actuating rod secured against rotation, an actuating barrelrotatably mounted on said rod, means for rotating said barrel, and acontroller member secured to said barrel for rotation therewith andhaving a threaded opening through which said rod extends, saidcontroller member being operatively engaged with said pins forsuccessive operation thereof to operate said pin support.

14. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support, an electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for the operation thereof, acontroller mounted on said controller support and secured to rotatetherewith, means for moving said controller lengthwise along saidcontroller support to successively engage the controller pins on saidpin support for operation thereof, a movably mounted contact supportoperatively connected with said controller support for operationthereby, a contact on said contact support operatively connected intoone side of the circuit for operating said motor, and a brush supportedin position to engage said contact and operatively connected with theother side of said circuit.

15. In a controller echanism of the character described and including amovably mounted in support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support, an electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for the operation thereof, acontroller mounted on said support and secured to rotate therewith,means for moving said controller lengthwise along said cohtroliersupport to successively engage the controller pins in said pin supportfor the operation thereof, a movably mounted contact support operativelyconnected with said controller support for operation thereby, a contacton said contact support operatively connected into one side of thecircuit for operating said motor, and a set of brushes supported inposition to engage said contact and operatively connected into the otherside of said circuit.

16. In a controller mechanism or" the character described and includinga movably mounted pin support operatively connected with a controldevice and having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support,a rotatably mounted con troller support, an electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for the operation thereof, acontroller mounted on said controller support and secured to rotatetherewith, means for moving said controller lengthwise along saidcontroller support to successively engage the controller pins on saidpin support for operation thereof, a movably mounted contact support, acontact on said support operatively connected into one side of thecircuit for operating said motor, a set of brushes supported in positionto engage said contact and operatively connected into the other side ofcircuit, and a timed connection between said controller support and saidcontact support for imparting relative timed action between said pinsand said brushes.

17. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovaoly mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support, an electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for operation thereof, acontroller mounted on said support and secured to operate therewith,means for moving said controller lengthwise along said controllersupport to successively engage the controller with the pins on said pinsupport for operation thereof, a movably mounted contact supportoperatively connected with the controller support for operation thereby,a contact on said contact support operatively connected into one side ofthe circuit for operating said motor, a set of brushes supported inposition to engage said contact, an electric switch, and a connectionbetween said brushes and said switch and between said switch and theother side of said electric circuit.

18. In a controller mechanism of the characte described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, a rotatablymounted controller support, a reversible electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for the operation thereof, acontroller mounted on said controller support and secured to rotatetherewith, means for moving said controller lengthwise along saidcontroller support to successively engage the controller pins in saidpin support for operation thereof, a movably mounted contact supportoperatively connected with said controller support for operationthereby, contacts mounted on said contact support and operativelyconnected into one side of the circuit for operating said motor, saidcontacts operating in conection with the motor in rotation of the latterin different directions, and a set of brushes sup ported in position toengage each of said contacts and operatively connected into the otherside of said circuit.

19. In a controller mechanism of the character describ d and including amovably mounted pin Lng member operatively connected with device andhaving a set of controller mounted in said support, a controller memoerin the form of a rotatably mounted cam, means ror rotating said cam, andmeans for imparting relative movement as between said pin supportingmember and said cam to eiiect successive engagement of the cam with saidpins to produce different degrees of movement of said pin support.

20.1n a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support operatively connected with said pinsupport for successive engagement of the pins thereon, an electric motoroperatively connected with said controller support for operationthereof, a movably mounted contact sup port operatively connected withsaid controller support for operation thereby, a contact on said contactsupport operatively connected into one side of the circuit for operatingsaid motor, and a brush supported in position to engage said contact andoperatively connected into the other side of said circuit.

21. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support operatively connected with saidpins for successive operation thereof, an electric motor operativelyconnected with said controller support for the operation thereof, amovably mount-ed contact support operatively connected with saidcontroller support for operation thereby, a contact on said contactsupport operatively connected into one side of the circuit for operatingsaid motor, and a set of brushes supported in position to engage saidcontact and operatively connected into the other side of said circuit.

22. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support operatively connected with saidpins for successive operation thereof to actuate said pin support, anelectric motor operatively connected with said controller support forthe operation thereof, a movably mounted contact support, a contact onsaid contact support operatively connected into one side of the circuitfor operating said motor, a set of brushes supported in position toengage said contact and operatively connect it into the other side ofsaid circuit, and a timed connection between said controller support andsaid contact support for imparting relative time action between saidpins and said brushes.

23. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said pin support, arotatably mounted controller support operatively connected with saidpins for successive operation thereof to actuate said pin support, anelectric motor operatively connected with said controller support foroperation thereof, a movably mounted contact support operativelyconnected with the controller support for operation thereby, a contacton said contact support operatively connected into one side of thecircuit for operating said motor, a set of brushes supported in positionto engage said contact, an electric switch, and a connection betweensaid brushes and said switch and between said switch and the other sideof said electric circuit.

24. In a controller mechanism of the character described and including amovably mounted pin support operatively connected with a control deviceand having a set of controller pins mounted in said support, a rotatablymounted controller support operatively connected with said pins forsuccessive operation thereof to actuate said pin support, a reversibleelectric motor operatively connected with said controller support forthe operation thereof, a movably mounted contact support operativelyconnected with said controller support for operation thereby, contactsmounted on said contact support and operatively connected into one sideof the circuit for operating said motor, said contacts operating inconnection with the motor in rotation of the latter in differentdirections, and a set of brushes supported in position to engage each ofsaid contacts and operatively connected into the other side of saidcircuit.

IRVING M. CRAFTS. CHARLES B. TAYLOR.

